aspinwali



L. M. ASPINWALL.

BROACHING DEVICE FOR TORPEDOES. I

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1919.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

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LOUIS M, ASPINW ALL, OF PiTTSBURG'rI-I, LPENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WES'lIhl'GI-I'OUSE ELECTRIC 6: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA,

saoaorrme DEVICE FOR TORPED'OE'S.

messes.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS M. AsPINWALL,

United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement'in Broaching Devices. for Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to broaching devices or torpedoes and it has for its'object to provide apparatus of the character desig- ..nated that shall in no Way interfere With the adjustment of the depth rudder during the travel of the torpedo but effectively move the depth rudder to the broaching position at the end of the torpedo travel, irrespective of the setting that the control'mechanism tends to give to the depth rudder at this time.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a side View of the after-body of a torpedo, partially broken away and ShOW- ing, in diagrammatic form, the elements of a broaching system embodying my invention.

In the control of a torpedo, it is the usual practice to provide a horizontal rudder for the control of the running depth, placing this rudder under the control of a pendulum, responsive tothe departure of the torpedo from even keel and also to'the control of a pressure diaphragm sensitive to changes in the degree of submergence, Whether on an even keel or not. Upon reaching the end of its travel, as when used in experimental trips, it is desirable that the torpedo shall be recovered for re-use, but, if, when the propeller force is exhausted, the rudder is depressed, the torpedo goes to the bottom and recovery is diflicult. It has, therefore, been proposed to employ broaching devices which cause the horizontal rudder to be thrown to "the up position after a predetermined torpedo travel, irrespective of the setting of the control time.

Certain of the broaching devices that have beenproposed have required that the immersion steering mechanism shall Work against a broaching springthroughout,the

entire run. This has required the use of heavy and powerful steering mechanlsm, with consequent loss of sensitlveness.

- In accordance'with-the present invention,

.1 provide a lever, in the linkage connecting Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 18, 1919. Serial No 291,036.

which shall sitely rotating propellers 6 devices at this gizing circuit for the solenoid 18 is closed Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

the controlled mechanism with the horizontal rudder, with a floating fulcrum. A broaching spring normally tends to throw this fulcrum to such position that the, rudder is placed in the broaching position, irrespective of the setting of the steering mechanism. Rather than oppose this broaching-spring by the steering mechanism, however, I oppose it by a solenoid or other electrical translating device that is energized when the torpedo is fired. A circuit-op'ening mechanism is provided that-is operative from the propeller shaft, or otherwise, to open the energizing circuit of this translating device after a predetermined torpedo travel. The effect of the translating device, when energized, has been to overcome the broaching spring and to place the floating fulcrum in such position that the control mechanism could function properly, but the denergization' of the trans lating device permits the broaching spring to move the fulcrum to the other position, thus causing the torpedo to broach.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed understanding of my invention, I show the after-body of a torpedo at 5, pro pulsion being effected by th usualoppoand 7 driven by shafts 8 and 9. A horizontal or depth rudder 10, of usual form, is provided and is coupledto a control mechanism 11 through links 12 and 13 and a lever 14. The mechanism 11 embodies a pendulum 15 and a depth diaphragm 16 and is enabled to control the depth of immersion of a torpedo through the rudder 10 when the fulcrum 17 I of the lever 14 is moved to the extreme lefthand position by a solenoid 18 having.. an adjustable stop 19. A broaching spring 20 opposes the pull of the solenoid 18 and tends to move the fulcrum; 17 to the right, under which conditions the rudder 10 is thrown upwardly to broach the torpedo, irrespectiveof the setting of the device'llx A rotatable drum 21 is provided with a conducting segment 22, partially surrounding its periphery, and contact brushes 23 and fltbear upon this segment. The enerthrough these brushes and the segment from a current source 25. The drum 21 is (lIlVGll at low speed from the propeller shaft 9, as by a double-Worm reduction 26, the arrangement being such that the brushes 110 23-24: leave the segment 22 after a predetermined torpedo travel, such, for example, as 4000 yards, determined by the number of propeller revolutions.

Having thus described the arrangement of a system embodying my invention, the operation thereof is as follows. Atthe time of firing, the brushes 23 and 2 k bear upon the segment 22 and the energizing circuit for the solenoid 18 is closed. The fulcrum 17 is moved to the extreme left-hand position by the solenoid 18, and steering linkage is in such position that the control device 11 may function properly and accurately. At the conclusion of the desired travel, the brushes 23 and 24 leave the segment 22 and the solenoid 18 is deenergized, whereupon the breaching spring 20 pulls the fulcrum 17 to the right, throwing the rudder 1.0 to the broaching position, irrespective of the setting of the mechanism 11. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the steering mechanism .11 is not required to overcome the breaching spring 20 during the travel of the torpedo and thus the device 11 may be of great sensitiveness and delicacy. Furthermore, the fulcrum 1'? isheld in a firm and positive manner at a readily adjustable position, during the travel of the torpedo, so as to in no way interfere with the proper adjustment of the horizontal rudder.

While I have shown my invention in its preferred form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various minor changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims. 4

I claim as my invention:

1. In a broaching system for torpedoes, the combination with a horizontal rudder, of an operating linkage therefor, said linkage including a lever having a floating fulcrum, means normally tending to throw said fulcrum to a position causing a broaching setting of said rudder, and means for overcoming said breaching means and holding said fulcrum in another position during a predetermined range of travel of the torpedo.

2. In a breaching system for torpedoes, the combination with a horizontal rudder, of a control linkage therefor, control means for operating said linkage and rudder .to maintain said torpedo at a predetermined depth, said linkage including a lever having a floating fulcrum, means for maintaining said fulcrum at one position during a predetermined ran'ge of travel of the torpedo, such that said control means is operative, and means for then shifting said fulcrum to another position, such that said rudder is thrown to the broaching position, irrespective of the setting of said control means.

3. In a breaching system for torpedoes, the combination with a horizontal rudder, of a control linkage therefor, control means for operating said linkage and rudder to maintain said torpedo at a predetermined depth, said linkage including a lever having a floating fulcrum, a spring tending to throw said fulcrum to such position as to move said rudder to the broaching position, irrespective of the adjustment of said control means, an electrical translating device capable of overcoming said spring and of moving said fulcrum to such position that said control means may properly function, an energizing circuit for said translating device that is closed at the firing of the torpedo, and means for opening said circuit after a predetermined range of torpedo travel.

t. In a broaching system for torpedoes, the'combination with a horizontal rudder, of a control linkage therefor, control means for operating said linkage and rudder to maintain said torpedo at a predetermined depth, said linkage including a lever having a floating fulcrum, a spring tending to throw said fulcrum to such position as to move said rudder to the broaching position, irrespective of the adjustmentof said control means, an electrical translating device capable of overcoming said spring and of moving said fulcrum to such position that said control means may properly function, an energizing circuit for said translating device that is closed at the firing of the torpedo, and means for opening said circuit after a predetermined number of revolutions of the torpedo propeller.

5. In a breaching system for torpedoes, the combination with a horizontal rudder, of a control linkage therefor, control means for operating said linkage and rudder to maintain said torpedo at a predetermined depth, said linkage including a lever having a floating fulcrum, a spring tending to throw said fulcrum to such position as to move said rudder to the broaching position, irrespective of the setting of said control means, a solenoid having a plunger and an adjustable stop member therefor, said plunger being connected to said fulcrum and said solenoid being capable of overcoming said spring and of moving said fulcrum until the plunger reaches said stop, said control means being permitted to function properly in this position, an energizing circuit for said solenoid, said circuit being closed when 7 the torpedo is fir d, and means for opening said circuit after a predetermined range of torpeddtravel.

6. ln a broaching system for torpedoes, the combination with horizontal rudder.

of a control linkage therefor, control means for operating said linkage and rudder to maintain said torpedo at a predetermined depth, said linkage including a lever l'iaving a floating i'ulcrum, spring tending to throw said fulcrum to such position as to move said rudder to the preaching position, irrespeo tive of the setting of said control means, a

solenoid having a piunger and an adjust pedo is fired, and means for opening said circuit after a predetermined number of revolutions ot' a torpedo propeller.

7. In a torpedo breaching mechanism, the combination with a depth rudder, of a control mechanism therefor, and operative for the adjustment thereof for the maintenance of the torpedo at a predetermined depth during its range of .travel, breaching spring under strain upon a portion of the steering mechanism throughout the range of travel, and means other than said steering means for opposing said spring, said opposition being removed after a predetermined range of travel.

8. in a hroaching device for torpedoes,

the combination with a depth rudder, of com 1 troi means therefor ett'ective to control the immersion of said torpedo throughout the range of travel thereof, a breaching spring under strain and operative upon said steer ing mechanism throughout the range of torpedo travel, a solenoid opposing and overcoming said spring throughout the range of torpedo travel, and means for deenergizi'ng said solenoid after a predetermined range of torpedo travel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 81st day of March,

LOUIS M. ASPINWALL. 

